September 1 is National Wattle day. Wattle is not a unique plant to Australia but has become a symbol of our country for many years. The Golden Wattle (or acacia pycnantha) is used in the Australian shield, the Order of Australia and is also shown on various Australian stamps. Many Australian’s see the wattle as a national plant of importance and the gold colour of the flower has long been recognised as one of joy and renewal – it’s even used in the national Olympic uniforms. The Australian National Botanic Gardens reported that Archibald Campbell founded a Wattle Club in Victoria in 1899 to promote a Wattle Day demonstration every September. He wanted to encourage recognition of the flower as a symbol of patriotism. “In 1908 he delivered a lecture entitled 'Wattle Time; or Yellow-haired September' in which he stated that 'by numbers, the Wattle is almost exclusively Australian, and should undoubtedly be our National Flower'. “Interest in a national Wattle Day was revived in Sydney in 1909. Victoria and South Australia participated in 1910, and Queensland in 1912.” Wattle is among the first plants to regenerate after a bushfire, reminding us of the importance of renewal as it paints our national colours across our land in time of crisis. Many a grandmother has reprimanded the little ones however for bringing wattle sprigs into their house. It’s a long standing tradition that wattle isn’t brought into the house – superstition says it brings bad luck. But you can still bring the golden joy of wattle into your home in other ways. There are many shades of yellow to choose from and the trick is to find the shade that best suits your decor and sensibilities. As in nature, yellow works well with muted colours such as grey, bush green and charcoal. Keeping within complementary colours on the colour wheel or ensuring you maintain a pale and buttery tone will keep your decor modern and mellow, while avoiding the dreaded dated 90’s look. Approach yellow as a neutral. Use it to anchor a scheme together. Choose a yellow with beige undertones and it becomes the perfect non-colour colour for your walls or large pieces such as rugs and carpets. Yellow or even yellow gold is also great to use as pops of colour – cushions, stools, curtains or decor pieces. Yellow brings the sunny warmth of the Australian countryside into your home – without breaking Nan’s cardinal wattle rule. And lets face it – no one wants to be in Nan’s bad books.

Go for gold on Wattle Day

Celebrate National Wattle Day by decorating with yellow or gold. The bright, sunny colours and can be used to bring a bit of sunshine into your home.

September 1 is National Wattle day.

Wattle is not a unique plant to Australia but has become a symbol of our country for many years.

The Golden Wattle (or acacia pycnantha) is used in the Australian shield, the Order of Australia and is also shown on various Australian stamps.

Many Australian’s see the wattle as a national plant of importance and the gold colour of the flower has long been recognised as one of joy and renewal – it’s even used in the national Olympic uniforms.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens reported that Archibald Campbell founded a Wattle Club in Victoria in 1899 to promote a Wattle Day demonstration every September. He wanted to encourage recognition of the flower as a symbol of patriotism.

“In 1908 he delivered a lecture entitled 'Wattle Time; or Yellow-haired September' in which he stated that 'by numbers, the Wattle is almost exclusively Australian, and should undoubtedly be our National Flower'.

“Interest in a national Wattle Day was revived in Sydney in 1909. Victoria and South Australia participated in 1910, and Queensland in 1912.”

Wattle is among the first plants to regenerate after a bushfire, reminding us of the importance of renewal as it paints our national colours across our land in time of crisis.

Many a grandmother has reprimanded the little ones however for bringing wattle sprigs into their house.

It’s a long standing tradition that wattle isn’t brought into the house – superstition says it brings bad luck.

But you can still bring the golden joy of wattle into your home in other ways.

There are many shades of yellow to choose from and the trick is to find the shade that best suits your decor and sensibilities.

As in nature, yellow works well with muted colours such as grey, bush green and charcoal.

Keeping within complementary colours on the colour wheel or ensuring you maintain a pale and buttery tone will keep your decor modern and mellow, while avoiding the dreaded dated 90’s look.

Approach yellow as a neutral.

Use it to anchor a scheme together.

Choose a yellow with beige undertones and it becomes the perfect non-colour colour for your walls or large pieces such as rugs and carpets.

Yellow or even yellow gold is also great to use as pops of colour – cushions, stools, curtains or decor pieces.

Yellow brings the sunny warmth of the Australian countryside into your home – without breaking Nan’s cardinal wattle rule. And lets face it – no one wants to be in Nan’s bad books.